Welcome to the World’s Premier Soft Matter Science and Engineering Program
About Us
  • SESM at SCUT
  • Welcome From the Dean
  • School History
  • International Academic Advancement Council

Overview

School of Emergent Soft Matter is one of the first built Schools of Guangzhou International Campus of SCUT. In the form of “School plus high-end research institute”, our School carries out forward-looking basic research, develops innovative technologies in the fields of soft matter science and soft matter functional materials engineering and technology, and cultivates high-quality talents with innovative and practical capabilities, aiming to build a world-class innovation highland and talent training base in soft matter areas.

Our school has established an “International Academic Advancement Council” consists of eight renowned academicians from China, the U.S., Japan, and Europe. This council is responsible for final evaluations of faculty recruitment. We have led the university's first National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Major Program, and we have been honored with both national and provincial awards within China's education system.

Our Vision

Committed to the essence of education, we embrace the philosophy of Zhu Xi (1130-1200), a leading Confucian scholar: “To establish oneself, one must first establish learning; To establish learning, one must root it in the study of books.” Guided by this philosophy, we empower students to reshape their futures, inspiring them to “uphold moral integrity and pursue academic excellence.” 

In 2022, we brought in the International School of Advanced Materials. In 2023, we launched an International Demonstration Class program. We cultivate students through joined study of Bachelor and Master's degree/Bachelor and Doctoral degree programs, blending the best practices from Chinese and international educational systems. We equip students with interdisciplinary technical and scientific knowledge, enabling them to attain a broad theoretical foundation, innovative awareness, basic scientific research capabilities, and industrialization capabilities.

About SCUT

South China University of Technology (SCUT) is one of China's leading universities directly under the Ministry of Education, and one of the national 211 and 985 project universities, which qualifies it as a prestigious institution in China. Situated in the vibrant metropolis of Guangzhou in South China, the university boasts a substantial campus spanning 407 hectares, comprising three distinct campuses: the Wushan Campus, the University Town Campus, and the Guangzhou International Campus.

Soft matter is defined as “all physicochemical systems that have large response functions”. It encompasses polymers, colloid, gels, granular materials, liquid crystals, liquids, and biological materials that share an important common feature: they can be deformed or altered structurally by a small mechanical stress or perturbation at room temperature. Thus, soft matter plays an important role in our daily life as well as the industry. Therefore, our vision is to be recognized as having one of the best academic programs worldwide for our positive impact on humanity through contributions to and leadership in soft matter science and technology.

School of Emergent Soft Matter (SESM) focuses on research and development in various areas of soft matter, conducting both fundamental and applied research. Our interdisciplinary approach is centered on new molecular designs and syntheses, functional and intelligent materials and manufacturing, as well as practical applications. Overall, SESM is dedicated to academic discovery, invention and innovation, technology development, as well as the cultivation of talent and world-class education in soft matter.

We are excited to announce that SESM will open admissions for students worldwide to join our undergraduate and graduate programs while recruiting faculty and researchers globally to join our team. At SESM, you will collaborate with a diverse, international team dedicated to academic excellence and technological innovation.

Together, we are creating our future!

International Academic Advancement Council

To ensure the highest standards of academic excellence and a democratic hiring process, our school has established the International Academic Advancement Council, comprising eight distinguished academicians from leading research institutions across China, the U.S., Japan, and Europe. This council conducts interviews for candidates and makes final decisions on faculty recruitment, ensuring that every faculty aligns with our mission to foster groundbreaking research, transformative education, and cross-border collaboration.

Quick Links

Guangzhou International Campus: 777 Xingye Avenue East, Panyu District, Guangzhou, 511442

TEL.: +86-20-39381048; +86-20-39381029

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